Department for Transport

EU External Relations: Israel

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the timetable and process is, including parliamentary scrutiny, for ratification by the UK of the EU-Israel Civil Aviation Agreement.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The EU-Israel Aviation Agreement was signed on 10 June 2013. Prior to this it was subject to UK parliamentary scrutiny (EM 16502/12 & 16650/12 dated 4 December 2012). Scrutiny clearance was received from the European Scrutiny Committee on 12 December 2012 and the UK government therefore agreed to the Council Decision to sign the Agreement at the Council held on 20 December 2012. The Agreement is currently being amended due to the accession of Croatia to the European Union. The Decision to sign the amendment was agreed by Council on 8 October 2014 and is currently being considered by the European Parliament. Once this is complete, the Agreement and the amendment will then be concluded at a later date. The amendment will not be subject to UK parliamentary scrutiny as the European Scrutiny Committees of both Houses have agreed to waive parliamentary scrutiny of all amendments to EU-3rd country agreements, where the sole purpose of the amendment is to accede Croatia to an agreement.

Transport Select Committee

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many times he has attended public meetings of the Transport Committee since his appointment.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Attendance at Committee meetings is a matter of public record. Transcripts of appearances can be found in Hansard and on Committee web pages.

Driving: Licensing

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his policy is on whether drivers who are waiting for medical tests to confirm whether they are safe to drive should retain their licence in the meantime.

Andrew Jones: Drivers can retain their entitlement to drive while medical investigations are ongoing, providing the licence has not been previously withdrawn on medical grounds and the driver is not a risk to road safety. Drivers are advised to check with their doctor or DVLA if they are unsure whether they should continue driving while their fitness to drive is being assessed. Information about driving while waiting for an application to be processed is included on the driving licence application form.

Thameslink Railway Line

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on the Thameslink programme; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: London Bridge station works are progressing to schedule to enable the planned opening of part of the new concourse in late summer. The new Class 700 trains are undergoing testing on the network and are due to enter passenger service on the Brighton to Bedford Thameslink route this spring.

Railways: Infrastructure

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how much will be spent on rail infrastructure between 2015 and 2020; and how much was so spent between (a) 2010 and 2015 and (b) 2005 and 2010.

Claire Perry: Details of the annual grant funding for the years 2014 to 2019 (Control Period 5) which the Department is making available to Network Rail to meet its infrastructure commitments are in the table below: Financial YearAnnual grant total (m)2014-15£3,7372015-16£3,8352016-17£3,9162017-18£4,041*2018-19£3,741*Note: Figures in the above table are given in cash prices.* these are estimates - figures will be finalised following the publication of the Retail Price Index determined with respect to November 2016 and November 2017. Government grant support for the financial years 2005 – 2014 (which covered control periods 3 and 4) can be found in Network Rail’s Accounts, which are available here: http://www.networkrail.co.uk/Annual_report_archive.aspx. . In addition, Network Rail also has a £30.3 billion loan facility agreement signed on 4 July 2014 which covers Network Rail’s financing requirements for Control Period 5. Network Rail can draw down funds in different years, subject to business need and the Statement of Parliamentary Supply. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, the loan facility is subject to amendment and is currently set at £30.875 billion. This is the maximum Network Rail can draw down.

Cycling: Urban Areas

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps the Government is taking to spread best practice from the Cycle City Ambition scheme to those cities and towns not part of that scheme.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Cycle Cities Together Group was established to help the 8 cycle ambition cities (and London) identify best practice, share learning and identify ways of supporting other towns and cities across the country. In addition, the Department is currently making arrangements to monitor and evaluate the Cycle Ambition Cities programme. We anticipate that the evaluation will highlight the most effective of cycling interventions as a result of the investment.

Unmanned Air Vehicles

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the contribution of the Minister of State of 10 March 2016, Official Report, column 419, what assessment he has made of the potential merits of implementing temporary measures to ensure public safety when drones are used while his Department considers the best action to take.

Mr Robert Goodwill: There are existing regulations in place that require users of drones to maintain direct, unaided visual contact with their vehicle and to not recklessly or negligently cause or permit an aircraft to endanger any person or property. There are severe penalties in place for misuse of drones, such as up to five years imprisonment for endangering an aircraft. The Department for Transport (DfT) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) work with a wide range of industry partners across the aviation sector, (including manufacturers, airports, and airlines), to ensure our understanding of potential hazards to aircraft remains up-to-date and mitigations effective. Further work is underway to better understand the risk posed by flying drones close to commercial planes to ensure that regulations remain fit for purpose. The DfT is also currently working with the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) to develop consistent, EU-wide safety rules for drones, including potential technical solutions, such as geo-fencing and frequency jammers around airports. Communication and education of users on current safety restrictions will be key. Officials from my Department are actively considering with the CAA the development of an expanded and diversified communication and education campaign, to include more mediums and supporting products, such as smart phone applications. The CAA is running ‘small UAS’ (Unmanned Aerial Systems) Risk and Hazard workshops with industry as part of the Mid Air Collision Programme. Guidance on tackling the risks of criminal drone use has been provided to constabularies across the UK. The Secretary of State has written to Police to request their assistance in raising awareness of drone risks and restrictions.

Railway Stations: Disability

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what progress is being made to increase the number of train stations with step-free access.

Claire Perry: Under the £390m Access for All Programme, launched in 2005, 150 stations across Great Britain received an accessible route into the station and to and between each platform. A further £160m to extend the programme and deliver step-free access at an additional 68 stations. In addition, whenever infrastructure works are carried out at stations, they must comply with the relevant UK and EU accessibility standards. Each rail franchise also has a Minor Works budget of typically around £250,000 that can be used for small improvements to accessibility.

Railway Stations: Disability

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent progress has been made on increasing the number of wheelchair accessible stations from street to platform level at National Rail and London Underground stations.

Claire Perry: We take improving station accessibility very seriously and the Access for All programme has delivered step free access at over 150 stations with a further 68 projects in construction or development. In addition, whenever infrastructure work is carried out at stations it must meet current accessibility standards. For example, when Crossrail fully opens in 2019, all 40 stations on the route will also have step free access. Step free access to London Underground is a matter for Transport for London, but I understand that 66 Tube stations and 57 London Overground stations currently have step-free access, and Docklands Light Railway stations are all step-free.

Bus Services: Disability

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that broken accessibility equipment on buses is considered as a priority for repair.

Andrew Jones: From 1 January 2016 all single-deck buses designed to carry over twenty-two passengers on local and scheduled routes must comply with the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR), which require them to incorporate a wheelchair space and boarding facility, priority seating and other features to make journeys easier for a range of disabled people. Double deckers must comply by January 2017, and coaches by 2020. Currently 89% of buses are compliant, and last year just 47 of the 7,343 public service vehicles subject to routine checks were found to have PSVAR related defects. Operators of vehicles found to be non-compliant are required to rectify faults promptly or risk enforcement action. We expect all operators to comply with the law and are working with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency to ensure it continues to be enforced effectively.

Highways England: Amey

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the estimated cost is to Highways England for monitoring the performance of its contract with Amey for services in Area 7; and what the scope is of monitoring to be undertaken by Highways England to ensure Amey's compliance.

Andrew Jones: The estimated annual cost to Highways England for monitoring the performance of its contract with Amey for services in Area 7 is £207,840.This equates to approximately 0.75% of the total value of the contract with Amey annually. Highways England has a robust bespoke performance management in place for the Area 7 Amey contract in the form of a Collaborative Management Toolkit. It is designed to drive continuous improvement in Amey’s performance and ensure compliance with the contract using a combination of quantitative metrics and performance indicators. Reporting is on a monthly basis. Highways England will manage and monitor Amey’s performance, with evidence from non-conformity reports, service quality reviews and Quality Management Points. Every three years, a full Service Review will be carried out to appraise the suitability of the service being delivered. It will include but is not limited to measuring their performance against the Health, Safety and Environment criteria, the scope of service being delivered and the extent to which Amey has delivered and is committed to delivering continual improvement to ensure value for money.

Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2016 to Question 33421, what assessment his Department has made of how much renewable fuel has been supplied by each supplier relative to their obligation.

Andrew Jones: The Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) is a certificate trading scheme. The obligation is met by redeeming certificates. Certificates redeemed can be issued to an obligated supplier who supplies sustainable renewable fuel, purchased by obligated suppliers from other suppliers of renewable fuel and/or carried over from the previous obligation year. The Department publishes regular statistics on the supply of fuel under the RTFO which are published at:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/biofuels-statistics Report 6 for each year includes data on the performance against obligation by suppliers. The report 6 data from obligation year 7 (2014/15) shows that 1,671 million litres of renewable fuel was supplied, which is 3.29% of total fuel reported under the RTFO. In 2014/15 each supplier met 100 per cent of their obligation through redeeming certificates.

Bus Services: Disability

Tom Blenkinsop: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure that bus operators educate their drivers on wheelchair use of the accessible space on buses.

Andrew Jones: Buses subject to the Public Service Vehicles Accessibility Regulations (PSVAR) must incorporate a designated wheelchair space. Priorities for the use of this facility are currently the subject of proceedings at the Supreme Court. The assistance provided by drivers can be key to giving many disabled people the confidence to travel by bus however, and we have asked Mott MacDonald to review disability-awareness training from across the transport sector to inform the development of best practice guidance for bus operators. Our aim is to ensure that every bus driver has the skills and knowledge to provide disabled customers with a first class service.

Roads: Repairs and Maintenance

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2016 to Question 33636, what assessment he has made of the capacity of Highways England to complete the repair and replacement of surfaces of 80 per cent of roads in the strategic road network by 2020.

Andrew Jones: Highways England is continuing to deliver the government’s £15 billion Road Investment Strategy and is on track to meet all of their targets. The Highways England Delivery Plan 2015-2020 states they will resurface 1,200 lane miles in 2015-16. As of the end of February 2016 they had surpassed that target, completing 1,296 lane miles of resurfacing. The final figure for 2015-16 will be reported in their annual report later this year. Highways England has to ensure that 95 per cent of the strategic road network is in good condition. When the latest survey was carried out in December 2015, this was achieved.

Rolling Stock: Procurement

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 21 July 2015 to Question 7660, whether his Department has made a decision on the proposed conversion of Class 801 Intercity Express Programme units to bi-mode diesel operation.

Claire Perry: We have received a formal submission from Agility Trains West, the train supplier, which my Department is now considering. I remain committed to ensuring that the IEP trains enter service in accordance with the delivery schedule from 2017/18.

High Speed 2 Railway Line

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding his Department reserved in the HS2 budget for compensation to train operating companies in the form of (a) Schedule 4 payments, (b) Schedule 8 payments and (c) otherwise.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Compensation to train operating companies is included in the overall budget for HS2 of £55.7 billion (in 2015 prices) as established as part of SR15. Whilst the budget includes an allocation of costs for compensation to train operators‎, making these sums publicly available could affect our commercial position when negotiating with train operators.

Driving: Eyesight

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, when the DVLA plans to implement the European Commission's advice on lifting that authority's prohibition on driving for people who experience night-time hypoglycaemia.

Andrew Jones: The Department and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) led a campaign to change European legislation to exclude hypoglycaemic attacks while sleeping or “night-time hypoglycaemia” as a bar to driving. A proposal for a Commission Directive was submitted through the European Commission’s Regulatory Fitness Programme and is awaiting approval by the Council of Ministers and the European Parliament. Member States will be required to apply the provisions from 1 January 2018.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Communities and Local Government Select Committee

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many times he has attended public meetings of the Communities and Local Government Committee since his appointment.

Mr Marcus Jones: The Secretary of State has attended four meetings of the Communities and Local Government Select Committee since his appointment.

Supported Housing

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to ensure changes to supported housing will not adversely affect vulnerable people.

Brandon Lewis: We understand the importance of ensuring that those people living in supported accommodation, who are generally the most vulnerable members of our society, receive appropriate protections.The supported housing sector provides valuable support to some of our country’s most vulnerable people.We have commissioned an evidence review of the supported housing sector which we expect to report shortly. Building on this review, we will continue to work with and listen to providers as part of developing a long-term sustainable funding regime.In the meantime we have put in place a one-year exception for all supported accommodation from the social rent reduction measures and the Local Housing Allowance cap, so there will be no material change in this financial year.

Rented Housing: Homelessness

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assistance his Department provides for homeless people unable to provide documentation and information on previous tenancies to help them secure new tenancies.

Mr Marcus Jones: Our ‘How to Rent’ guide, updated in February 2016 sets out the types of documents landlords and agents often ask from tenants when looking for new properties. They include confirmation of a tenant's identity, immigration status, credit history and possibly employment status. Private landlords and letting agents operate on a commercial basis and they will decide which documents to request from prospective tenants based on their individual circumstances.The Government has provided a wide range of documents which can be accepted in Right to Rent checks in order not to disadvantage people who lack access to standard forms of identification such as passports and residence permits. Special consideration has been given to what documentation is available to people trying to escape homelessness, those fleeing domestic violence, ex-service people, and those leaving the prison system.Victims of domestic abuse who are staying in a refuge or hostel are exempt from the Right to Rent scheme. Those not in a hostel or refuge can also use a number of less standard documents to prove their right to rent. Acceptable documents include documents which should be accessible without having to return to a previous address, such as a letter from either their employer, a British passport holder, or local authority.

Housing Adaptations

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of adapted properties in England.

Brandon Lewis: Most recent data on the number of homes with adaptations that met the requirements of one or more occupants with a long term illness or disability will be available in the 2014-15 English Housing Survey, due for publication in July 2016.

Rented Housing: Domestic Violence

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assistance his Department provides for domestic violence victims unable to provide documentation and information on previous tenancies to help them secure new tenancies.

Mr Marcus Jones: Victims of domestic abuse who are staying in a refuge or hostel are exempt from the Right to Rent scheme checks. Those not in a hostel or refuge can also use a number of less standard documents to prove their right to rent.Domestic abuse is a devastating crime and we are determined to ensure that no one is turned away from the support they need. In the Violence Against Women and Girls Strategy published on 8 March, we set out our ambition to improve services for women suffering from domestic abuse, committing to a new Statement of Expectations to set out for the first time what we expect from local areas. To support this, we are launching a new two year fund for refuges and other forms of accommodation based support and to help local areas take the steps they need to meet the National Statement.In last year’s Spending Review we secured new, dedicated funding of £40 million to support victims of domestic abuse. This builds on the £3.5 million funding in 2015/16 and is on top of the £10 million funding to strengthen the provision of safe accommodation in the last spending review period. Since 2003, the Government has provided funding to UKRefugesOnline to help victims of domestic abuse access the help and support they need.There are a number of accommodation options for victims of domestic abuse. The Homelessness Code of Guidance for local authorities outlines the type of housing related and other support services that might be required. When making decisions, local authorities should sensitively consider which are the most appropriate options for each person on a case by case basis taking account of their individual needs.

Housing: Disability

Melanie Onn: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what estimate he has made of the number of people who require adapted housing in England in 2016-17.

Brandon Lewis: The Government recognises the critical importance housing adaptations have in sustaining wellbeing and helping older and disabled people to live independently. Since 2010 we have invested over £1 billion in the Disabled Facilities Grant, providing around 250,000 adaptations to older and disabled people's homes in England. We secured a year on year increase for the Disabled Facilities Grant over the Spending Review, meaning that the grant will increase 79% in 2016-17 to £394 million, rising to over £500 million by 2020.We also acknowledged the vital part adaptations play in the integration of housing, health and social care by incorporating Disabled Facilities Grant into the Better Care Fund in 2015.Most recent data on the number of homes needing adaptations will be available in the 2014-15 English Housing Survey, due for publication in July 2016.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Islamic State: Finance

Hilary Benn: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what steps the Government is taking to disrupt and prevent the sale of antiquities by Daesh to finance their terrorist activities.

Mr Philip Hammond: Holding answer received on 18 January 2016



Daesh has two main sources of funding. About 40% comes from extorting communities living in territory it controls; and around 40% from selling oil. It also gets a small amount of funding from selling looted antiquities and donations from individuals in the region and around the world. The trade in stolen cultural property accounts for only a small proportion of Daesh revenues, and is mostly carried out by third parties operating in Daesh territory.UK efforts in this area have focussed on limiting the market into which Daesh can sell looted antiquities into. UN Security Council 2199, which we co-sponsored in February 2015, sanctions those trading with Daesh and includes provisions on cultural heritage. The UK has an effective domestic legal framework for matters of cultural property. All import or export of illegally removed Iraqi and Syrian cultural property is prohibited, and it is a criminal offence in the UK to deal dishonestly in tainted cultural property from anywhere in the world.The Government announced at the end of 2015 that a new Cultural Protection Fund would be established to help address recovery from acts of cultural destruction overseas, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. The Foreign and Commonwealth Office co-hosted a summitt in October 2015, with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, to support this.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office: Russian Language

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how many Russian language (a) speakers, (b) interpreters and (c) translators are employed by his Department; and what steps he is taking to increase the number of such experts working in his Department.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We have 163 Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) employees with some level of Russian capability, ranging from basic Russian to operational skills (equivalent to degree level) recorded centrally.Russian is a priority language for the FCO, and since 2010, we have increased the number of Russian-language speaker positions in our Russian and former Soviet Union Posts by 30% and increased the minimum duration for Russian-language training from 10 to 14 months.The FCO does not deploy UK-based staff overseas as translators or interpreters. British Embassy Moscow has one full time locally recruited translator/interpreter position. Our local staff overseas routinely assist with translation as part of their daily work.

Palestinians: International Assistance

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what progress his Department has made on steps to ease the blockade of Gaza, with reference to the oral contribution of the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office on 25 February 2015, Official Report, columns 155-8WH.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We remain deeply concerned by the situation in Gaza. Officials from our Embassy and Consulate General regularly raise the need to make progress towards a durable solution for Gaza, and press for practical steps to advance reconstruction and economic development with both the Israeli Government and the Palestinian Authority (PA).We have urged the PA to make progress on resuming control in Gaza. We are also urging Egypt to show maximum flexibility in opening the Rafah crossing.We have welcomed the steps that Israel has taken to ease some restrictions, including extension of the fishing zone to nine nautical miles, extension of agricultural exports beyond the shmita year, increase of water supply and support for energy and desolation projects. We urge Israel to take further action to ease restrictions.We are concerned about recent reports of diversion of cement entering Gaza through the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM). While we understand Israeli security concerns, new restrictions on the import of cement have resulted in a slowdown in reconstruction activity and will have a significant impact on employment. The Department for International Development support to the Materials Monitoring Unit of the GRM also helps provide monitoring to ensure construction materials are used for civilian purposes.

Israel: Palestinians

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his international counterparts on reports that a UN-funded Palestinian non-governmental orgaisation, Rural Women's Development Society, organised an event commemorating a Palestinian terrorist who killed three Israeli civilians.

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations he has made to his international counterparts on reports of a UN-funded Palestinian non-governmental organisation, Union of Agriculture Work Committee, organised a tree planting ceremony honouring 209 martyrs of the popular uprising.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: While we have not made any representations to our international counterparts about this specific issue, we condemn all acts of terrorism and incitement to commit violence, whichever side it comes from.

Brahim Saika

Mr Mark Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if his Department will raise with the Moroccan ambassador to the UK the death of Brahim Saika in Gulemin police station on 15 April 2016.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The British Embassy in Rabat raised the case of Mr Brahim Saika with Morocco’s National Human Rights Commission, CNDH, on 18 April 2016. The Commission had been following the case closely and is preparing its report on his detention and death. We will consider any further action in the light of the Commission’s report.

Middle East: Press Freedom

Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent representations he has made to the governments of (a) Egypt, (b) Saudi Arabia and (c) United Arab Emirates on the removal of restrictions on press freedom in these countries and the Middle East.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We regularly raise our concerns over press freedoms with the Egyptian authorities both in London and in Cairo. The Prime Minister raised the detention of journalists including the trial of the Al Jazeera journalists with President Sisi during his visit to the UK in November 2015. I raised press freedoms and freedom of expression with the Egyptian Ambassador earlier this month.We also regularly make our views on freedom of expression known to the Saudi Arabian Government. We continue to underline to the UAE that people must be allowed to freely discuss and debate issues and exercise the right to freedom of thought. We believe that reforms, including meeting citizens’ aspirations for greater participation, will be the guarantor of longer-term stability in the region.

Nigeria: Abduction

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent assistance the Government has provided to the Nigerian government in the search for the Chibok schoolgirls who were kidnapped in April 2014.

James Duddridge: In response to the abduction of the Chibok girls the UK, together with the US and France, provided a range of military and intelligence support to help the Nigerian government in their search for the missing girls, and to address the long-term challenges of terrorism.Since 2014 the UK has significantly increased our military, intelligence and development support to Nigeria. This includes training and advice for Nigerian units deploying against Boko Haram. Last year almost 1000 Nigerian military personnel benefited from UK training to prepare them for counter-insurgency operations in the north east. We have also provided £5million to support the Multinational Joint Task Force set up by Nigeria and its neighbours to tackle the insurgents. Through our development assistance, the UK supports the Government of Nigeria’s Safe Schools Initiative which has helped over 90,000 displaced children to return to school and we have increased our humanitarian support to help deliver food, water and emergency healthcare to those affected by the conflict.We remain fully committed to supporting Nigeria in its fight against Boko Haram and to help find all those who are missing, including the Chibok girls.

European Commission

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions Government officials have accompanied representatives of British overseas territories or Crown dependencies to meetings with the European Commission in the last five years.

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what estimate he has made of the amount of staff time that has been used in assisting representatives of British overseas territories and Crown dependencies in preparation for meetings with the European Commission in the most recent period for which information is available.

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, on how many occasions UK Government officials have prepared briefings or provided information to representatives of British overseas territories and Crown dependencies to assist in their dealings with the European Commission in the most recent period for which information is available.

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what resources the Government has expended in assisting British overseas territories and Crown dependencies to represent themselves to the European Commission in the latest period for which information is held.

James Duddridge: The UK is responsible for the international relations of the Overseas Territories, which have a specific status within the European Union Treaties. The Overseas Association Decision is the instrument which sets out the relationship between the European Union and the Overseas Territories of the Member States. In 2015 I attended the annual Forum bringing together Territory leaders, senior representatives from the European Commission and the Member States. Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials meet approximately six times a year with the Territories and the Commission to take forward cooperation under the Overseas Association Decision. Other government departments provide officials when required if the subject matter falls within their area of competence.The United Kingdom is also responsible for the international relations of the Crown Dependencies which have a special relationship with the European Union under Protocol 3 to the United Kingdom’s Treaty of Accession to the European Community.United Kingdom Government officials meet regularly with Crown Dependency and Overseas Territory representatives to discuss forthcoming business; information sharing is a matter of routine. The Crown Dependencies and Overseas Territories make their own preparations for meetings with the European Commission but Foreign and Commonwealth Office officials assist when asked to do so. Support is also available from other government departments and the UK Permanent Representation to the European Union should it be required.

Attorney General

Sentencing

Karl Turner: To ask the Attorney General, what his policy is on expanding the Unduly Lenient Scheme; and if he will consult on any such changes before their introduction.

Jeremy Wright: The Government has committed to extending the scope of the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme and is carefully considering its approach.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Iron and Steel: Dumping

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he has taken to examine measures other European countries have taken to protect their steel industries against dumping to inform his policies.

Anna Soubry: Anti-dumping policy is agreed at EU level so all EU member states adopt identical trade measures to protect EU industry from dumping. These measures are only imposed following an investigation by the European Commission, which in turn must be prompted by a complaint from European industry. The EU currently has 37 anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures in place on steel and steel products. As part of the International Comparisons Working Group, established following the Steel Summit on 16 October 2015, the Government has, in conjunction with representatives of the UK steel industry, examined the anti-dumping policies of some non-EU countries. The work was informed, in part, by European Commission’s own evaluation of its trade defence instruments published in 2012[1], which included a detailed comparison of the trade defence policies of other countries.  [1] Evaluation of the European Union’s Trade Defence Instruments. BKP Development and Research 2012. Vol 1 and 2.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Travel

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2016 to Question 33918, what estimate he has made of the annual cost of policy staff travelling from his Department's office at 1 Victoria Street, London to his Department's Sheffield Office at St Paul's Place.

Joseph Johnson: The Permanent Secretary has recently written to the Chairs of the Public Accounts Committee and the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee. His letter contains details of the potential maximum savings from a closure of the Department’s Sheffield office at St Paul’s Place, and can be seen at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/518244/letter-martin-donnelly-sheffield-office.pdf.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills: Travel

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what the annual cost is of policy staff from his Department's office at St Paul's Place, Sheffield travelling to London.

Joseph Johnson: The Permanent Secretary has recently written to the Chairs of the Public Accounts Committee and the Business, Innovation and Skills Committee. His letter contains details of the potential maximum savings from a closure of the Department’s Sheffield office at St Paul’s Place, and can be seen at: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/518244/letter-martin-donnelly-sheffield-office.pdf.

Pubs Code Adjudicator

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, who will act on behalf of the Pubs Code Adjudicator in situations where one of the parties to that adjudication objects to the Adjudicator's involvement.

Anna Soubry: Holding answer received on 25 April 2016



The Pubs Code Adjudicator has been appointed by the Secretary of State to arbitrate alleged breaches of the statutory obligations set out in the Pubs Code. The Adjudicator will therefore be operating within the statutory framework provided in the SBEE Act and Pubs Code regulations. The parties to an alleged breach of the Pubs Code are not afforded an automatic right to object to the Adjudicator discharging what is a statutory duty. This is in contrast to the position of arbitrators appointed to deal with a private arbitration of contractual disputes. The Adjudicator will make and publish arrangements for dealing with any conflict of interest as he is required to do by the SBEE Act [Schedule 1 para 10]. These will be the relevant arrangements for any parties wishing to raise any questions about conflicts of interest. Where the parties raise any objection to the Adjudicator arbitrating a dispute, it is for the Adjudicator to decide whether it is appropriate for him to appoint another arbitrator (as the Act allows).

Driverless Vehicles: Lasers

Mr David Anderson: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 18 April 2016 to Question 33237, what assessment his Department has made of the potential health risks of the use of lasers by driverless vehicles.

Anna Soubry: My right hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills believes that the General Product Safety Regulations should ensure that lasers used by driverless cars do not present an unacceptable health risk.

Manufacturing Industries: Employment

Kevin Brennan: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many jobs there were in the manufacturing sector in each region and constituent part of the UK in each of the last 10 years; and what proportion of all jobs such jobs were in each such year.

Anna Soubry: Data on the number and proportion of manufacturing employees in each region and constituent country of the UK is available from the Office for National Statistics Employee Jobs data.Please note that this covers employees only and excludes the self-employed.The data requested is given below.Employee Jobs in Manufacturing by Region and Country of the UK 20062007200820092010North East129128121116113North West364361334329305Yorks/Humber288283267253248East Midlands279277264257258West Midlands350331318285280East of England247243232220214London144139133118111South East302297287267265South West244245232224216Wales157156156140129Scotland214212201189176Northern Ireland8484827573UK2,8002,7552,6262,4722,388   2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 North East107110109110116North West316296302314328Yorks/Humber247249246258262East Midlands249261253251256West Midlands277275280294299East of England221226213216212London106107106112115South East262254242239237South West213218217214214Wales133133138147145Scotland178180174182189Northern Ireland7474757780UK2,3842,3832,3562,4142,453

Women's Business Council

Ruth Cadbury: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he has taken to support the work of the Women's Business Council; and whether he has incorporated any research recommendations from the Women's Business Council into government policy and legislative proposals.

Anna Soubry: Holding answer received on 26 April 2016



The Government Equalities Office lead on supporting the work of the Women’s Business Council. We support the aim of the Council to maximise the contribution of women to economic growth and we are working to ensure we create the right environment for everyone, including women, to set up and grow their own businesses. Women are able to benefit from the full range of business support available from government, including Start-Up Loans and the New Enterprise Allowance. Over a third of loans (38%) have gone to women. Additionally, the Business is GREAT website has a specific section for women in enterprise providing information on women’s networks, childcare, flexible working, and access to finance.

Defence: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what discussions he has had with the Secretary of State for Defence on ensuring that Ministry of Defence contracts with suppliers and manufacturers benefit the UK economy.

Anna Soubry: My Rt hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills has regular discussions with my Rt hon Friend the Secretary of State for Defence on a wide variety of issues. My department supports the Government’s Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR), published last November, which set out the Government’s commitment to get the best value for money for the taxpayer in a way that strengthens our economy and bolsters the long-term prosperity of people across the UK. The SDSR committed the Government to refreshing its defence industrial policy and taking further action to help the UK’s defence industry grow and compete successfully and my department is engaging MOD on taking this work forward.

Aerospace Industry: South West

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to sustain aerospace engineering capability and capacity in the South West region.

Anna Soubry: We work closely with aerospace companies and their representative organisations, in particular the West of England Aerospace Forum (WEAF), in the South West through the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) to tackle barriers to growth, boost exports and grow high value jobs. As part of this work we are investing heavily in the sector to support the industry’s private investment in technology, competitiveness and productivity, manufacturing capability and skills. The work of the AGP includes businesses of all sizes in the South West region including large players such as Airbus, Finmeccanica Helicopters, GE Aviation, GKN, Rolls-Royce, Safran Messier-Bugatti-Dowty, UTC Aerospace Systems, as well as their many medium and small sized suppliers, and other specialist aerospace businesses.

EU Grants and Loans

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how much EU (a) 7th Framework Programme and (b) Horizon 2020 funding has been provided to (i) universities, (ii) other research institutions and (iii) small businesses in the UK in each of the last five years.

Joseph Johnson: The figures requested are set out below. These reflect the full value of grant agreements signed in each calendar year, not the money received in that year.Higher and Secondary Education Organisations (HES) agreed funding (€): 20112012201320142015FP7832,679,583923,451,6551,017,766,046390,441,74222,102,754Horizon 2020   178,789,606910,814,167 Non-profit Research organisations (REC) agreed funding (€): 20112012201320142015FP7109,612,01678,523,761107,290,57638,249,2161,469,761Horizon 2020   48,957,471140,977,361 All Small and Medium sized Enterprises (SME) agreed funding (€): 20112012201320142015FP7127,491,096180,348,365229,312,02939,929,247241,625Horizon 2020   49,215,444219,693,279 Please note that the SME figures may include some HES or REC organisations.The variation in the figures across the years in part reflects the fact that calls are competitively bid for and vary considerably in the amount of funding available; and in part the fact that the FP7 budget was back-loaded, with increasing amounts of money available to award as grants in the final two years of the programme (2012-2013). In contrast, relatively few grants were awarded in the first year of Horizon 2020 (2014), which thereafter is due to run with annual budgets larger than those available to FP7.Overall, the UK was the second biggest recipient of EU research funding under FP7, and remains so under Horizon 2020.

Nursing: Training

Toby Perkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many (a) applicants and (b) accepted offers of places there were for nursing degrees at each institution in 2014-15 from (i) A-levels and (ii) Access students.

Joseph Johnson: The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) publishes data on applications and acceptances for full-time undergraduate courses.In 2015 the number of applications to nursing courses was 186,260 and the number of acceptances was 21,450. Each person can make up to five applications.UCAS does not publish data on applicants or acceptances for nursing degrees broken down by either institution or entry qualification.

Trade Union Bill

Margaret Ferrier: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the applicability of the provisions of the Trade Union Bill to officials of the devolved administrations.

Nick Boles: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Trade Union Bill

Stuart C. McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what recent assessment he has made of the applicability of the provisions of the Trade Union Bill to officials of the devolved administrations.

Nick Boles: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Department for Education

Academies: Shropshire

Daniel Kawczynski: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many schools in Shropshire have been converted into academies.

Edward Timpson: Twenty-five schools in Shropshire have been converted into academies. This information is publically available on GOV.UK at: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/performance/index.html

Schools: Finance

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how deprivation factors are taken into account in school funding formulae.

Mr Sam Gyimah: In current funding arrangements, each local authority devises a local funding formula through which they distribute funding to schools in their locality. The formula must include a deprivation factor, and local authorities have the flexibility to use a pupil-based measure (eligibility for free school meals (FSM)), an area-based measure (the Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index, which is known as IDACI) or both in order to identify pupils eligible for this funding.We are committed to introducing a national funding formula so that schools’ funding is matched fairly and consistently to need. In our recent consultation on the principles and building blocks of a national funding formula, which closed on 17 April, we proposed to include a deprivation factor which uses a combination of the FSM and IDACI measures to identify eligible pupils. We are now reviewing all responses and will set out the detail of the formula in a second consultation, to be published later this year.Further detail on our proposals for a deprivation factor in a national funding formula can be found on page 19 in our consultation document: https://consult.education.gov.uk/funding-policy-unit/schools-national-funding-formula/supporting_documents/Schools_NFF_consultation.pdf

Academies

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether a standard precedent lease will be issued to all schools planned to be converted to an academy under her Department's recent proposals; what the proposed standard length is of such leases; whether a market rent will be charged; whether the tenant will be responsible for (a) internal and (b) structural maintenance; whether formal consent will be required from her Department before any underlettings or assignments; and whether the local authority will be (i) noted on the lease and (ii) holding an interest right on the property.

Edward Timpson: Under the proposals outlined in our White Paper, Education Excellence Everywhere, it is our intention that academies would occupy land transferred to the Secretary of State under the terms of a standard lease. We are currently working to improve and simplify our current model lease.The Secretary of State has a clear policy position that publicly funded education land should transfer at no cost to the public, so our intention is to replicate the existing arrangement of 125 year peppercorn leases. A tenant would in the vast majority of cases be responsible for all maintenance and repair of a site, as is the case with our current lease.Academies already require the consent of the Secretary of State to dispose of or change the use of any publicly funded land and this is going to remain the case. We are still working with local authorities on how best to implement these measures, including discussions on how we best consider and recognise local needs and interests.

Department for Education: Armed Forces Covenant

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which of her Department's directors has responsibility for implementation of its commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant.

Edward Timpson: I, as Minister of State for Children and Families, am responsible for implementing the Department for Education’s commitments under the Armed Forces Covenant. The senior civil servant who supports the Minister in implementing the commitments is Juliet Chua, director of the Post-16 and Disadvantage Group in the Education Standards Directorate.

Academies: Land

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether a property management company will be created for land held as a result of the proposals to transfer land owned by local authorities to the Secretary of State as part of the policy of converting all schools to academies.

Edward Timpson: We have no plans to create a property management company to hold land transferred to the Secretary of State as a result of the proposals outlined in our White Paper for converting community schools. Our expectation is that any such land would be held by the Secretary of State to ensure the land is safeguarded for educational use.We are separately developing proposals for a new body of property specialists to help meet our commitment to deliver 500 more free schools by 2020. Their focus will be on acquiring sites for free schools; rather than the management of existing school land. Finding sites quickly is often the biggest obstacle to opening new schools, and this proposal will help ensure we have the right people working for us to secure best value for the taxpayer.

Academies: Land

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of legal costs (a) to her Department and (b) to the academies and local authorities affected arising following the transfer of all local authority school land to the Secretary of State under the plans to convert all schools to academies; and what estimate she has made of such costs of the granting of leases to each academy under those plans.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, whether local authorities will retain rights of overage, clawback or pre-emption or any other interest in land transferred to her as a result of the Government's recent academisation proposals.

Edward Timpson: In our recent White Paper, Educational Excellence Everywhere, we announced our intention for the freehold of land at community schools to transfer to the Secretary of State on their conversion to Academy status. We are clear that we want all schools to become academies and are considering proposals to remove obstacles for schools - there are too many cases where negotiations over the use of land have delayed conversion to academy status.We are now working closely with local authorities to explore how these transfers will work in practice, including how we can best minimise the costs local authorities already face in relation to resolving land issues during conversion. The Secretary of State for Education already has the power to direct that where academy land is no longer required for a school, the land or any proceeds of sale can be returned to the local authority. That power will remain unchanged. We will, in considering how best to implement these measures, of course ensure that local needs are taken into account.

Pupils: Mental Health

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services on the health, wellbeing and performance of young people in schools and colleges.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We want children to do well academically. Attainment is supported if students have good health and mental wellbeing and when they have access to specialist mental health services where they need it.The Government is investing an additional £1.4bn in children’s mental health this Parliament. Clinical Commissioning Groups (CCGs) across the country have worked with partners, including schools and colleges, to produce local transformation plans for children and young people’s mental health services. These should set out what will be done locally to make the best use of the resources available – changing how child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS) are delivered in response to the challenges set out in the Future in Mind report and increasing the focus on preventative activity. NHS England has put the plans through an assurance process before releasing funds and is carrying out an analysis of plans to identify practice that can be shared to inform future planning.In addition we have contributed to a £3m joint pilot with NHS England which is testing how single points of contact in CAMHS and schools can secure effective mental health support to pupils. The pilots are involving over 250 schools in 27 CCG areas through joint training, which supports schools and CAMHS leads to identify specific activity to improve support in their area.The Department of Health has commissioned a new survey into the prevalence of mental health conditions in children and young people in England, the first since 2004. They expect this to be published in 2018.

School Milk

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent representations her Department has received from primary schools on the requirement to make milk available during the school day.

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance her Department has provided to schools on their compliance with the milk requirements of her Department's school food standards.

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment she has made of the effect of her Department's school food standards on milk consumption in primary schools.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We have had one piece of correspondence on milk from a school in recent months. The Department does not collect data on the consumption of milk. The revised School Food Standards are effective from 1 January 2015 and designed to be easier to read and implement. A full public consultation on the School Food Standards regulations was held between 6 March and 16 April 2014. All schools were subsequently notified of the guidance through our termly communications with schools. The standards and guidance are available on gov.uk at:http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2014/1603/contents/madehttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/standards-for-school-food-in-englandhttp://www.schoolfoodplan.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/School-Food-Standards-Guidance-FINAL-140911-V2C.pdf

Children's Centres

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many Sure Start centres were in operation on 1 March 2016.

Mr Sam Gyimah: On 1 March 2016 local authorities listed as being in operation 3,331 main children's centres and sites open to families and children providing children's centre services as part of a network.Children’s centre records are maintained by local authorities and are made publicly available via the department’s “EduBase portal” at: http://www.education.gov.uk/edubase/home.xhtml

Primary Education: Free School Meals

Jenny Chapman: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress has been made on the provision of universal infant free school meals.

Mr Sam Gyimah: Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) have been a great success, with over 1.3m additional infants enjoying a nutritious, free meal at lunchtime and parents saving hundreds of pounds a year.

Children: Day Care

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what progress her Department has made on development of an early years workforce strategy.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government committed to develop a workforce strategy in 2016. We want to continue to attract quality staff into the early years, and to support those already working in the sector to progress, which is why we are reviewing career progression routes. We want to understand what improvements can be made to help more staff reach their potential and forge a successful career in the early years.We began discussions with a range of stakeholders in the sector earlier this year on the elements of a workforce strategy, and we are continuing to speak to stakeholders as we develop the strategy further. We plan to communicate an update to the sector on the workforce strategy in the coming months.

Teachers: Labour Turnover

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of a majority leave vote in the EU referendum on teacher recruitment and retention.

Nick Gibb: At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government's position is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU.

Languages: Education

Jess Phillips: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of a majority leave vote in the EU referendum on the teaching and learning of modern foreign languages.

Nick Gibb: The Government believes that learning a language is important to the social and economic future of the country and to help children understand the world which they live in. We are committed to the teaching of foreign languages as part of a core academic curriculum. This is why a modern or ancient language is included within the English Baccalaureate performance measure.

Children in Care

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, which guidance her Department provides to local authorities on the retention of case files for victims of serious child abuse in local authority-provided care.

Edward Timpson: Paragraphs 7.10 and 7.11 of Volume 2[1] of the guidance and regulations to Children Act 1989 (on care planning, placement and case review) explains how a local authority should retain and safe keep all looked after children’s case files.Paragraphs 4.21 et seq of Volume 3[2] of the same guidance (on transition to adulthood for care leavers) includes information about access to records for people who have spent all or part of the childhood or adolescence in local authority care.[1]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/441643/Children_Act_Guidance_2015.pdf[2]https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/397649/CA1989_Transitions_guidance.pdf

Extended Schools

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of children attending a breakfast club in primary schools in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) Bradford in the last 12 months for which records are available.

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of children attending a breakfast club in secondary schools in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) Bradford in last 12 months for which figures are available.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The most recent results of the Childcare and Early Years Providers Survey suggest that in England in 2013, around 591,200 school-aged children under eight attended before school care in a typical term-time week. However, it is not possible to identify within this total the number of children who attended provision in primary and secondary schools separately. In addition, the survey sample sizes do not allow for an estimate for Yorkshire and the Humber, or LA level estimates, nor does it collect information about secondary age children.The findings of the Survey can be found online at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/childcare-and-early-years-providers-survey-2013

Extended Schools

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how she plans for the £10 million increase in funding to expand breakfast clubs in schools announced in paragraph 1.95 of Budget 2016 to be distributed; and how her Department plans to monitor the spending of that funding.

Naz Shah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate her Department has made of the number of additional breakfast club places which will be created by the £10 million increase in funding announced in paragraph 1.95 of Budget 2016 in (a) England, (b) Yorkshire and the Humber and (c) Bradford.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Chancellor announced in the recent budget that funding from the new sugar levy would be used in part to expand breakfast clubs in up to 1,600 schools from September 2017. We are currently refining the details of how this scheme will operate and further details will be announced in due course.

Academies: Admissions

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how the Government plans to give parents confidence that their child will be accepted by academies that determine their own admissions and ensure that the child's needs will be met.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what powers local authorities have to ensure that academy schools accept children with special educational needs.

Edward Timpson: The law requires all schools, including academies, to comply with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan which names the school.Where a child or young person has Special Educational Needs (SEN) or disabilities but does not have an EHC plan, academies are required to comply with the Schools Admission Code and the law relating to admissions in considering their parents’ application for a place. Academies must:consider such applications on the basis of the school’s published admissions criteria as part of their normal admissions procedures;not refuse to admit a child because they do not feel able to cater for those needs; andnot refuse to admit a child on the grounds that they do not have an EHC plan.In addition:the Equality Act 2010 prohibits all schools from discriminating against disabled children and young people in respect of admissions for a reason related to their disability; andwhere an academy has a pupil with SEN on roll, it must use its ‘best endeavours’ to ensure that the child get the support needed.The Secretary of State also has powers under each academy’s funding agreement to direct the admission of a child to an academy. This power can be exercised if a school unlawfully removes a child from roll or if a school unlawfully refuses to comply with an EHC plan.Finally, anyone applying for a place as a mainstream applicant, which includes those with SEN but without an EHC plan, can appeal to an independent appeal panel constituted and operating in accordance with the School Admission Appeals Code, if refused admission. The decision of the panel is binding on all parties.

New Schools Network: North of England

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how much funding has been allocated for the establishment of a Northern branch of the New Schools Network; what the timetable for the establishment of that branch of Network is; and what plans he has for where that branch of the Network will be located.

Edward Timpson: Holding answer received on 26 April 2016



The New Schools Network (NSN) is an independent charity that aims to improve the quality of education in the state sector, particularly for the most deprived children. It works with free school groups from all regions of England.In the Budget, NSN was allocated £200,000 grant funding for a new Northern centre to encourage more innovative free schools in the region. NSN has already allocated a member of staff, who is based in Manchester, to work specifically with groups in the North and further recruitment will begin shortly.NSN has plans to operate a similar model in the Midlands.

Ministry of Justice

UK Membership of EU: Crown Dependencies

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2016 to Questions 30551 and 30552, on UK membership of EU: Crown Dependencies, if his Department will take steps to ensure that the principles underlying those arrangements are not affected in the event that the UK leaves the EU.

Andrew Rosindell: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, pursuant to the Answer of 9 March 2016 to Questions 30551 and 30552, on UK membership of EU: Crown Dependencies, what his Department's policy is on the future of the principles enshrined in Protocol 3 should the UK vote to leave the EU.

Dominic Raab: The Channel Islands and the Isle of Man enjoy special arrangements for access to the EU, provided under Protocol 3 to the UK’s Treaty of Accession to the European Community. As set out in the Government’s White Paper: ‘The process for withdrawing from the European Union’, published on 29 February, the withdrawal process is unprecedented. There is uncertainty about how it would work. There would be no requirement under EU law for these arrangements to be maintained if the UK left the EU. The Government respects and values the constitutional relationship between the UK and the Crown Dependencies, and will continue to engage constructively with them to address issues and areas of concern.

Domestic Violence: Homicide

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information his Department holds on the number of domestic homicides that are linked to people who have been convicted of (a) breaching restraining orders, (b) breaching non-molestation orders and (c) stalking offences in each of the last five years.

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people convicted of stalking offences have received therapeutic custodial sentences or hospitalisation orders in each year since 2012.

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people have received the maximum custodial sentences for stalking offences under (a) Section 2A and (b) Section 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997 in each year since those sections were brought into force.

Dominic Raab: The number of offenders sentenced at all courts, with sentencing outcomes and custody rate, for stalking offences, in England and Wales, from 2012 to 2014, can be viewed athttps://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2014 The published information includes small numbers of prosecutions and convictions for this offence before the offence was introduced. This is due to an error in data collection and should be ignored. Also, please note that every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. The number of offenders sentenced at all courts in England and Wales for stalking offences specifically under Section 2A and Section 4A of the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, with the number of offenders sentenced to the maximum custodial sentences permissible, from 2012 to 2014, can be viewed in Table 1. Specific details of individual prison sentences, such as whether they included a therapeutic component, and information regarding the location in which an offence occurs in (i.e. in a domestic setting or otherwise) are not held centrally and can only be obtained at disproportionate cost.



Offenders sentenced - Harassment Act 1997
(Excel SpreadSheet, 31 KB)

Stalking

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, whether his Department has undertaken or commissioned research into the relationship between people who are convicted of multiple breaches of restraining orders and commission of stalking offences.

Richard Graham: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment his Department has made of the effectiveness of psychological assessment and rehabilitation of people convicted of stalking offences under Sections 2A and 4A.

Dominic Raab: The Government recognises that stalking is an insidious crime that can have a devastating impact on the lives of victims and their families. That is why the coalition Government created specific stalking offences in 2012 and why we continue to look at ways to protect victims of stalking, ensure stalking is recognised early and dealt with effectively and, where an offender is convicted, provide the courts with appropriate sentencing powers.

County Courts: Bedford

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the cost of moving Bedford County Court from Shire Hall, St Paul's Square, Bedford, to the Employment Tribunal building in Howard Street, Bedford.

Mr Shailesh Vara: The enabling works of moving Bedford County Court to the Employment Tribunal building will be subject to a tendering process. The disclosure of any estimate of costs is therefore commercially confidential.

Social Security Benefits: Appeals

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of appeals relating to (a) employment and support allowance, (b) disability living allowance and (c) personal independence payment from people claiming for (i) mental health conditions and (ii) other medical conditions have been successful to date.

Mr Shailesh Vara: This information requested is not held centrally.

Charter of Fundamental Rights (EU)

Martin Docherty-Hughes: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the Government's policy is on the UK remaining a party to the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights.

Dominic Raab: The Charter is part of the EU Treaties and has the same status. It only applies when the UK is acting within the scope of EU law.

Leader of the House

English Votes for English Laws

Sir Oliver Heald: To ask the Leader of the House, pursuant to his Answer of 3 March 2016, Official Report, column 1102, when he expects the review of English votes for English laws procedures to take place.

Chris Grayling: The Government has committed to reviewing the procedures for English votes for English laws after they have been in place for twelve months and after the Procedure Committee completes the technical evaluation which it is currently undertaking. As part of the review we will also take account of the recent report published by the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee.

Department for Culture, Media and Sport

European City of Culture

Thangam Debbonaire: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment he has made of the potential effect on the European Capitals of Culture process of the UK voting to leave the EU.

Mr Edward Vaizey: At the February European Council, the Government negotiated a new settlement, giving the United Kingdom a special status in a reformed European Union. The Government's position is that the UK will be stronger, safer and better off remaining in a reformed EU. We are better off thanks to the European Capitals of Culture initiative that produced real benefits for Glasgow in 1990 and Liverpool in 2008.

BBC: Finance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what estimate he has made of the total operating budget for the BBC in each of the next five years; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: It is important that the BBC has a sustainable budget, allowing it to continue to provide world-class content and services. The Government will set out plans for the future of the BBC, including its funding, in a White Paper in May.

BBC: Royal Charters

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what progress has been made on the introduction of the next BBC Royal Charter; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The Government will set out its plans for the future of the BBC in a White Paper in May.

Libraries: Computers

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, what statistics his Department collects on the use of computers in libraries.

Mr Edward Vaizey: The annual library statistics compiled, and published in December 2015, by the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy indicate that from 1 April 2014 to 31 March 2015 there were 26 million recorded hours of use of computers in public libraries in England.

Department for Work and Pensions

Employment and Support Allowance

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his Department's latest estimate is of the number of parents with children who will be claiming employment and support allowance in April 2017.

Priti Patel: The specific information requested is not readily available, and could only be provided at disproportionate cost.

Taxation: Underpayments

Grahame Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate he has made of the number of people who have received demands to pay underpaid tax as a result of his Department not notifying HM Revenue and Customs when an employment and support allowance claimant is moved from the work-related activity group into the support group in each of the last three years.

Priti Patel: The information requested is not held.

Families

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether the Life Chances Strategy will include the provision of funding to support positive family relationships; whether funding under that strategy will include families with teenage children; and if he will make a statement.

Priti Patel: This government believes that families play an essential role in improving the life chances of children of all ages. As the Prime Minister announced in his speech on 11th January, funding for relationship support is being doubled in this Parliament with an extra £35 million to support family relationships. More details will be set out in the forthcoming Life Chances Strategy.

Children: Maintenance

Anna Turley: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what his policy is on a person providing child maintenance having their payments regarded for the purpose of an income assessment for means-tested benefit.

Priti Patel: A person who is providing child maintenance does not have their payments disregarded for the purpose of an income assessment, in a means-tested benefit, as this would amount to the tax payer meeting a person’s liabilities.

Children: Maintenance

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many Segment 2 non-compliant cases have been fully closed on the CSA 1993/2003 systems.

Priti Patel: Holding answer received on 26 April 2016



The first in a series of quarterly publications regarding Child Support Agency Case closure are scheduled be published on the 11th May 2016.This publication will include the number of segment 2 cases that have been fully closed up to December 2015.

Universal Credit

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the number of universal credit claimants who do not have basic digital skills; and whether his Department has plans to reduce the number of such claimants without those skills.

Priti Patel: Holding answer received on 26 April 2016



DWP recognise that some people will need help with on-line claims and activity. Those people without digital skills will be offered support in our offices to make and manage their claims on-line, and also to acquire or improve core digital skills. DWP has also rolled out the Universal Support initiative alongside the national roll out of Universal Credit, as part of which Local Authorities deliver both digital and budgeting support.

Work Capability Assessment

Alan Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, if he will review the language and terminology used in written communications to people attending personal independence payment or work capability assessments to ensure that those communications are readily understood by recipients.

Justin Tomlinson: We are undertaking a full review of PIP and ESA communication products and messages. This work includes customer testing to ensure that the language and terminology used is clearly understood by recipients. As part of our work to review claimant communications we are working with our Health Assessment Providers for PIP and ESA, to align the notifications sent to claimants invited to attend a face-to-face consultation with content produced by the Department.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Litter

John Stevenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, whether the (a) Tobacco Manufacturers Association, (b) Wine and Spirits Association, (c) Scottish Whisky Association, (d) British Food and Drinks Federation and (e) British Soft Drinks Association have been asked to attend the national litter strategy advisory group.

Rory Stewart: The current confirmed members of the Litter Strategy Advisory Group are: Local Government AssociationLondon CouncilsLocal councilsHighways England and Connect PlusIndustry Council for Research on Packaging and the EnvironmentFoodservice Packaging AssociationPackaging and Films AssociationBritish Retail ConsortiumWrigleyMcDonald’sKeep Britain TidyCampaign for the Protection of Rural EnglandHubbubClean Up BritainMarine Conversation SocietyClean-up UKChartered Institution of Wastes ManagementBradford University Input to the Strategy’s development will go beyond the Advisory Group. We will seek the views of, among others, representatives from local government, campaign groups and independent experts, as well as voices from the packaging and fast-food industries. As part of this process, we will also establish a number of working groups on specific issues such as roadside litter, data and monitoring and enforcement.

Litter: Fixed Penalties

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, when she plans to commence Section 154 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, on fixed penalty notices for leaving litter.

Rory Stewart: No timetable has been set for when Section 154 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 will be commenced. Defra has announced plans for a new litter strategy and we are working with industry, experts and councils across England to improve the way we all tackle the scourge of litter. The litter strategy will promote affordable and replicable ways to influence littering behaviour and reduce littering. This will include work on ways to deal with littering from vehicles.

Agriculture: Subsidies

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many farmers in Stafford constituency who are eligible for payments under the Basic Payments Scheme 2015 had not been paid by 31 March 2016.

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many payments under the Basic Payments Scheme 2015 had not been made to farmers in Stafford constituency by the Rural Payments Agency by 31 March 2016.

George Eustice: As of 31 March 2016, the Rural Payments Agency had paid 168 (80%) of the 211 eligible Basic Payment Scheme 2015 claims received in Stafford constituency. To date 191 had been paid and the agency has announced that those customers who do not receive a claim payment in April will be provided a bridging payment. Bridging payments will be around half of their claim value.

Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee

Julie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many times she has attended public meetings of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee since her appointment.

George Eustice: Attendance at Committee meetings is a matter of public record and transcripts of such appearances can be found in Hansard and on Committee web pages.

School Milk

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what allocation the UK expects to receive from the European School Milk Scheme in each of the next three years.

Dr Lisa Cameron: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment her Department has made of the potential effect of the revised European School Milk Scheme on dairy farmers in the UK.

George Eustice: The UK has operated the existing EU school milk scheme since the 1970s. This has made an important nutritional contribution, encouraging children to adopt healthy eating habits. The new scheme will operate from 1 August 2017 with an enhanced focus on educational measures to strengthen the links between the farming community and children, parents and teachers. The total budget for the scheme has been increased from €80 million to €100 million to encourage higher milk consumption. Now that the scheme has been voted through, we will consider the new requirements and consult industry. Indicative allocations for each Member State for the period 1 August 2017 to 31 July 2023 are set out in the new school schemes regulations. The UK’s indicative allocation for school milk is €9,804,331 annually. Participation in the scheme is voluntary at the national level. Final allocations will depend on the amounts that Member States request as there is provision for re-allocating amounts that are not taken up in Member States programmes. In addition to the European School Milk Scheme, the Department for Health funds a much larger domestic scheme that provides free school milk to the under 5s at a cost of around £60 million a year.

Floods: Northamptonshire

David Mackintosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what resources her Department allocated to local authorities and the emergency services in Northamptonshire to develop their capacity to deal with flash floods in each of the last three years.

Rory Stewart: The Government provides funding to Lead Local Flood Authorities to carry out their duties in relation to managing and co-ordinating local flood risk under the Flood and Water Management Act. Local flood risk includes surface water run off. However, local authorities decide what to spend according to local priorities. For the past three years this funding has been provided through two mechanisms i.e. direct grant from Defra via the Local Services Support Grant and from the Department for Communities and Local Government through the Local Government Finance Settlement. The total funding provided to Northamptonshire County Council in the last three years for their role as a Lead Local Flood Authority was: 2013/14 £290,0002014/15 £288,0002015/16 £241,000 Of this, the funding provided directly by Defra was: 2013/14 £140,0002014/15 £140,0002015/16 £93,000 This Department does not fund the work of the emergency services.

Home Office

Knives: Children

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people have been convicted of selling a knife to someone under age since the introduction of the Violent Crime Reduction Act 2006.

Mike Penning: Holding answer received on 21 April 2016



Relevant data for 2004 to 2014 is available within the Criminal Justice Statistics publication in the ‘Criminal justice statistics outcomes by offence data tool’, under offence ‘195 Criminal Justice Act 1988 S.141A(1) - Selling a blade to a person aged under 18.The publication is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/criminal-justice-system-statistics-quarterly-december-2014Data for 2015 will be published in due course.

Unmanned Air Vehicles: Public Places

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what steps she has taken to ensure that all police officers are aware of restrictions around the use of drones in public areas and where permits are necessary.

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, if she will ensure that the results of the police investigation into the drone collision at Heathrow airport on 17 April 2016 are published.

Mr John Hayes: Holding answer received on 21 April 2016



The Aircraft Accident investigation Bureau investigation into the collision will be made public. However, the separate, ongoing criminal investigation, and any decision to release the results of the investigation, is an operational matter for the Metropolitan Police, as the investigatory authority.Guidance has been circulated to Police Forces to assist them when dealing with incidents involving misuse. A decision on whether to investigate and prosecute is made on an assessment of threat, risk and harm.

Visas: Sri Lanka

Mr Andrew Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the total number of visit visa applications was from Sri Lanka in 2015; and how many such applications were refused.

James Brokenshire: The information requested is as follows:Applications: 16745Issued : 10940Refused : 5785*These figures are based on Management Information, not published statistics, and are therefore liable to change.*These figures relate to all visit visa applications made via the Visa Application Centre in Columbo, Sri Lanka, in 2015. It will therefore incorporate applicants other than Sri Lankan nationals.*Numbers have been rounded to the nearest 5.

Cybercrime: Publicity

Jack Dromey: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 5 January 2016 to Question 20367 and of 18 January 2016 to Question 22101, what the spend for the Cyber Streetwise campaign was on (a) media spend and production, (b) PR, partnership and social, (c) research and (d) website in (i) 2014-15 and (ii) 2015-16.

Mr John Hayes: Holding answer received on 25 April 2016



Cyber Streetwise is a cross Government campaign, developed by private and public stakeholder partners and coordinated by the Home Office’s Research, Information and Communications Unit. It is designed to make the UK a safer place to interact and do business online by increasing individual and SME adoption of safe online behaviours.Government experts estimate that a significant proportion of cyber security threats could be avoided by safer online behaviours. Cyber Streetwise supports this by increasing digital confidence, informing people about key steps that keep them safer online. It does this by:• Delivering actionable and positive solution focussed advice on how to be secure• Creating arresting communications that highlight the consequences and cut through low interest• Reminding and reinforcing individuals and SMEs of the core protective behaviours at the point of risk/incidenceThe impact of Cyber Streetwise on behaviours is evaluated via regular quantitative tracking research. Since its launch in January 2014, it is estimated that 2 million adults have adopted safer online behaviours that will better protect them.The spend for Cyber Streetwise in 2014/15 and 2015/16 is as follows:• 2014/15 - £3.95 million excl VAT• 2015/16 - £4.1 million excl VAT

Immigration

Shabana Mahmood: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many renewals of existing status of discretionary leave to remain have been refused due to a failure to pay the immigration health surcharge in each of the last three years.

James Brokenshire: Our records indicate that the number of applications rejected due to a failure to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge (IHS) from 27 June 2015 to 31 December 2015 is 154. This consisted of 134 rejected for failure to pay the appropriate fee and the IHS, and 20 rejected solely for failure to pay the IHS. There were also an additional 10 cases rejected solely for failure to pay the application fee.The payment of the Immigration Health Surcharge was not prescribed for Further Discretionary Leave to Remain application forms until 27 June 2015.Notes:• The data relates to applications for Further Discretionary Leave to Remain.• The data provided is provisional management information that is subject to change. It has not been assured to the standard of Official Statistics.• All of the statistics referred to in the answer come with necessary caveats about the accuracy of the data. The data provided has been drawn from manual records on the Home Office Case Information Database, which, as with any large scale recording system, is subject to possible human errors with data entry and processing.

Deportation

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many people were removed from the UK by surface transport on grounds that they were not entitled to leave to remain but who were unable to fly on medical grounds in each of the last five years; and how many such people were removed to India.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Deportation: India

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what the cost to the public purse has been of removing to India by sea those people who have been refused leave to remain in each of the last five years.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Deportation

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what protocols her Department has on removing from the UK people who have been refused leave to remain and who require (a) 16 hours and (b) 24 hours of oxygen per day for medical reasons.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Hizb Ut Tahrir

Richard Fuller: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what her most recent assessment was of whether Hizb ut-Tahrir should be proscribed.

Mr John Hayes: Hizb-ut Tahrir (HuT) is not proscribed in the UK. Decisions on proscription must be proportionate and based on evidence that an organisation is concerned in terrorism as defined in the Terrorism Act 2000. Hizb-ut-Tahrir, along with other organisations which cause us concern, is kept under continuous review. As and when new material comes to light it is considered and the organisation reassessed as part of that process. Individual members of HuT are, of course, subject to the criminal law.

Emergency Services: Mental Illness

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2016 to Question 34792, when she expects the confidential advice line to become available.

Mike Penning: The Blue Light Infoline is available now and offers confidential, independent and practical support, advice and signposting around mental health and wellbeing. The Infoline is for emergency service staff, volunteers and their families and helps keep them or those they care about well for work. The infoline can be contacted on 0300 303 5999, or by email on [emailprotected]/*  */!function(t,e,r,n,c,a,p){try{t=document.currentScript||function(){for(t=document.getElementsByTagName('script'),e=t.length;e--;)if(t[e].getAttribute('data-cfhash'))return t[e]}();if(t&&(c=t.previousSibling)){p=t.parentNode;if(a=c.getAttribute('data-cfemail')){for(e='',r='0x'+a.substr(0,2)|0,n=2;a.length-n;n+=2)e+='%'+('0'+('0x'+a.substr(n,2)^r).toString(16)).slice(-2);p.replaceChild(document.createTextNode(decodeURIComponent(e)),c)}p.removeChild(t)}}catch(u){}}()/*  */ or by text on 84999

Emergency Services: Staff

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2016 to Question 34792, how much of the £10 million allocated to the emergency services from the LIBOR fines will be available to retired emergency service workers.

Cat Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, pursuant to the Answer of 25 April 2016 to Question 34792, how the £4 million allocation from LIBOR fines that have been allocated for mental health support is being divided between emergency services; and what proportion of that funding will be allocated to (a) firefighters, (b) police officers and staff and (c) paramedics and ambulance staff.

Mike Penning: The LIBOR funding allocated to support emergency services staff and volunteers was allocated to a variety of charities covering all the emergency services. The Police and Fire Service treatment and rehabilitation centres and the Air Ambulance Services Charity are among the charities in receipt of LIBOR funding and they support retired as well as serving personnel. Information is not held centrally on proportions of funding allocated to each emergency service or to retired emergency services workers.

Ministry of Defence

Army: Sikhs

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Answer of 4 March 2015 to Question 225425, what progress has been made on the assessment of the feasibility of the creation of a Sikh regiment.

Penny Mordaunt: The Armed Forces are working to increase the recruitment of military personnel from all ethnic and religious backgrounds and have made significant progress towards the set target of 10% Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic enlistment to training by 2020. Measures have also been implemented to improve mutual understanding between the Army and the full range of UK communities in order to build better relationships between communities and military personnel.The Ministry of Defence continues to look at all options relating to the recognition of Sikh values and traditions in our Armed Forces. Service personnel already benefit from a thriving British Armed Forces Sikh Association and a Sikh chaplain to the military; work is ongoing to ensure that policy supports the active participation of the Sikh religion.

Armed Forces: Equality

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the (a) status and (b) purpose is of the Defence Diversity and Inclusion Programme established in September 2013.

Penny Mordaunt: The Defence Diversity and Inclusion Programme (DDIP) is a high priority change programme aimed at increasing the diversity of our workforce - both military and civilian. The Defence Board agreed in 2014 that the DDIP should be regarded as core business, on a par with other Defence Transformation activities.The main purpose of the DDIP is to ensure that Ministry of Defence outputs are delivered by the right mix of capable and motivated people that appropriately represent the breadth of the society we exist to defend, now and in the future. The programme continues to drive real change in the core areas of leadership and culture; recruitment; retention and progression; and outreach, seeking to remove barriers where they might exist.The benefits of this will be better access to talent for Defence's workforce and improving the Armed Forces' ability to achieve overall recruitment levels; improved decision making as a result of the different perspectives that come from a more diverse workforce; greater levels of cultural understanding so that we are more effective and trusted in our international operations and activities; improved workforce engagement and morale; and better relations with, and support from, the wide range of communities within British society as a result of a more representative workforce.

Armed Forces: Ethnic Groups

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what the intake of BAME servicemen and women was as a proportion of total intake for each year from 2006 to the latest available figures.

Penny Mordaunt: The information held by the Ministry of Defence is as follows: Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) intake as a proportion of Total UK Regulars1 Intake each year April 2008-April 2015. 12 Months ending1 April 20081 April 20091 April 20101 April 20111 April 20121 April 20131 April 20141 April 2015% BAME8.39.46.85.67.37.97.05.7Source: Defence Statistics (Tri-Service) Older information is not available as the current systems date back to 2007 only. Information on Reserves intake is due to be released as part of the UK Armed Forces Biannual Diversity Statistics on 26 May 2016. The most recent data can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-armed-forces-biannual-diversity-statistics-2015 Notes1UK Regular Forces comprises Full-time personnel but does not include Gurkhas, Full Time Reserve Service personnel and Reservists. Percentages exclude those personnel with an unknown ethnicity.

Armed Forces: Ethnic Groups

Mr David Lammy: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps his Department is taking to increase the number of servicemen and women recruited from black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds.

Penny Mordaunt: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 18 April 2016 to Question 33630 to the hon. Member for Barnsley Central (Dan Jarvis).



Armed Forces; Ethnic Groups
(Word Document, 15.87 KB)

Armed Forces: Deployment

Steven Paterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many UK armed forces personnel are embedded in foreign armed forces; and with which forces such personnel are embedded.

Penny Mordaunt: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement released by the Defence Secretary on 17 December 2015 (HCWS431) which details "UK service personnel embedded in another nations' armed forces, who are deployed on operations, together with those who work on operations in deployed coalition or single nation headquarters roles". It also explains that the Ministry of Defence (MOD) intends to publish details annually through the Department's Annual Report and Accounts (ARAC). The MOD will publish the latest version of its ARAC shortly which will include an update about embeds.



HCWS431 - WMS on UK Embedded Forces
(Word Document, 15.96 KB)

Russia: Defence

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what recent steps his Department has taken to ensure that UK defence capability can effectively respond to a threat from Russia.

Penny Mordaunt: As outlined in the 2015 Strategic Defence and Security Review our commitment to collective defence and security through NATO remains as strong as ever. Our 2% defence spending pledge will ensure that we stay NATO's strongest military power in Europe.In 2017 the UK will lead the Very High Readiness Joint Task Force, formed in response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, and we will make a significant contribution to the force every year of this Parliament. As well as providing Typhoons to NATO's Baltic Air Policing mission, we have provided ships and Army units to NATO exercises to reassure our Allies against the threat from Russia, and we will continue to do so. We are joining the German-US Trans-Atlantic Capability Enhancement and Training initiative in the Baltic states and Poland, sharing our military expertise.

Nuclear Weapons

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what priority issues were discussed and conclusions reached at the UK-US bilateral annual stocktake of the UK-US Mutual Defence Agreement on atomic energy matters in April 2016; who attended that stocktake from which organisations; and what the cost was of that stocktake.

Mr Philip Dunne: The UK/US Stocktake took place in April 2016 and was hosted by the Ministry of Defence (MOD). UK attendees were from the MOD and the Atomic Weapons Establishment and US attendees from the National Nuclear Security Administration, the Department of Defense, the US Air Force, the US Navy and Department of Energy Laboratories. No priority issues were discussed. As usual, technical and programme updates and discussions of collaborations took place. The costs were approximately £2500.

Nuclear Weapons

Paul Flynn: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what joint exercises his Department has held with participants from the US National Nuclear Security Administration on rapid response to emergency nuclear incidents, including those potentially involving terrorists, in the last 12 months.

Penny Mordaunt: The Ministry of Defence has been involved in four joint exercises related to nuclear incidents with the US National Nuclear Security Administration in the last 12 months. This included Exercise DIAMOND DRAGON 2015, a joint UK/US nuclear emergency exercise testing our response to an emergency involving US aircraft carrying US nuclear weapons in the UK. The other three exercises focused on countering nuclear terrorism.

Local Government: Armed Forces

Mims Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what proportion of local authorities have a dedicated Armed Forces Champion.

Mark Lancaster: 407 Local Authorities at district level and above have signed Armed Forces Covenant pledges although signing the Covenant is not a mandatory requirement for these bodies. These are voluntary commitments as is the nomination of a Covenant Champion. Ministry of Defence officials are in contact with Covenant Champions for 287 Local Authorities some of whom will act as representatives for other Local Authorities in their area. Among those Local Authorities who do not have a champion, there are those who do have a dedicated point of contact for Covenant issues.

National Security

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 6.50 of the National Security Strategy and Strategic Defence and Security Review 2015, if he will ensure that the refresh of the defence industrial policy includes measures to (a) maximise export potential, (b) generate intellectual property rights and (c) promote engineering skills in the defence and aerospace sector.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Government remains committed to the principles set out in the 2012 National Security Through Technology White Paper. We will always strive to get the best value for money for the taxpayer in a way that strengthens national prosperity. This will be our approach in refreshing defence industrial policy and in promoting an innovative, skilled and globally competitive UK defence sector.

Defence: Procurement

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that defence contracts offered to overseas manufacturers benefit the UK economy.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Ministry of Defence will always seek to procure the best capability for our Armed Forces while delivering value for money for the taxpayer. In line with Government policy, this is primarily through the use of open competition.When wider economic factors, such as skills growth, are relevant to the contract, they are taken into account in our contract award decisions. This applies equally to UK and overseas suppliers.

HM Treasury

Individual Savings Accounts

Julian Knight: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the number of people under 40 who will take up both a lifetime ISA and a help-to-buy ISA in each of the first three years that both those ISAs are available.

Mr David Gauke: The Government is creating a new Lifetime ISA, providing savers with the flexibility to save towards a first home and retirement at the same time. From April 2017, people aged 18 to 40 will be able to open and save up to £4,000 each year into a Lifetime ISA and receive a 25% bonus from the Government, paid annually after the end of the tax year. People can make full withdrawals from their Lifetime ISA accounts for a first home purchase (subject to a house price cap of £450,000 UK-wide) or from age 60. These withdrawals will be tax free. The Lifetime ISA is a voluntary product. For further information on the costing of this policy, please see page 9 of the Budget 2015 Policy Costings document: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/508147/PU1912_Policy_Costings_FINAL3.pdf More than 350,000 first time buyers have opened a Help to Buy ISA since it became available. ISA statistics are published on the GOV.UK website. Table 9.7 sets out the number of individuals subscribing to ISAs: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/number-of-individuals-subscribing-to-an-individual-savings-account-isa-by-income

Technology: Capital Allowances

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, with reference to page 36 of his Department's paper, Budget 2016: Policy Costings, published in March 2016, what the source is of the £5 million increase in revenues from updating technologies with access to enhanced capital allowance for 2017-18 to 2020-21.

Greg Hands: The £5 million in revenue is based upon changes to qualifying equipment in the updated Energy Technology List and Water Technology List, as certified by the Office for Budget Responsibility. The Department for Energy and Climate Change and the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs annually review the technologies and products that qualify for inclusion.

Economic Situation

Matthew Pennycook: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment he has made of the implications for his policies of the report by the Office for National Statistics, the Feasibility of measuring the sharing economy, published in April 2016.

Harriett Baldwin: HM Treasury has taken note of this feasibility study. Professor Sir Charles Bean’s Independent Review of Economic Statistics highlighted the importance of proper measurement of the sharing economy and to enable the Office for National Statistics to develop world-leading analytical and digital capabilities in economic measurement, the government will invest over £10m in a new hub for data science and a centre for excellence in economic measurement in line with recommendations.

Housing: Prices

Matthew Pennycook: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of low long-term real interest rates on house prices.

Harriett Baldwin: According to the latest figures published by the Office for National Statistics, UK house price growth moderated to 7.6% in the year to February 2016, down from a peak of 12.1% in September 2014. A number of factors are likely to have supported demand for housing in recent years, including low interest rates. The Government has established the independent Financial Policy Committee (FPC) within the Bank of England, designed to monitor risks to the UK financial system and take action to address those where appropriate. The FPC has been given the authority and a powerful set of tools to tackle the risks posed to financial stability from the housing market.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Energy: Meters

Andrew Bingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps the Government is taking to ensure that smart meters are installed in areas with poor mobile signal.

Andrea Leadsom: The Data and Communications Company (DCC) is putting in place a communications network across GB to send and receive information from smart meters to energy suppliers, energy network operators and energy service companies in a Wide Area Network (WAN). The DCC is contracted to provide network coverage of at least 99.25% of GB premises by the end of 2020 and to achieving at least 80% coverage of GB premises when it begins live services later this year. Our ambition is for all domestic and small business premises to have smart meters.

Solar Power: South East

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to support the solar industry in the South East; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Government recognises the significant role that solar deployment under the Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs) has played in engaging non-energy professionals in the electricity market, and the role that small-scale generation can play in the future energy mix. We therefore decided to keep the FITs scheme open in order to support the solar industry on a path to subsidy-free deployment.Some 91,000 solar installations directly supported by FITs have been undertaken in the South East, providing 425 MW of generating capacity.The new tariffs we’ve introduced will provide appropriate rates of return within a capped budget, encouraging further solar deployment whilst providing significantly better value for money to bill payers.

Electricity Generation: Eastbourne

Caroline Ansell: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what steps she is taking to encourage the use of photovoltaic-generated electricity in Eastbourne constituency; and if she will make a statement.

Andrea Leadsom: Government recognises the significant role that solar deployment under the Feed-in-Tariffs (FITs) has played in engaging non-energy professionals in the electricity market, and the role that small-scale generation can play in the future energy mix. We therefore decided to keep the FITs scheme open in order to support the solar industry on a path to subsidy-free deployment.Over 1,250 solar installations directly supported by FITs have been undertaken in the Eastbourne constituency, providing 4.4 MW of generating capacity.The new tariffs we’ve introduced will provide appropriate rates of return within a capped budget, encouraging further solar deployment whilst providing significantly better value for money to bill payers.

Warm Home Discount Scheme

Clive Lewis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what assessment she has made of the effect of the potential exclusion of the contribution made to energy efficiency of the Warm Homes Discount Scheme on meeting the 2020 interim target on such efficiency using the fuel poverty efficiency rating methodology.

Andrea Leadsom: The fuel poverty energy efficiency rating used to measure progress towards the fuel poverty target in 2030 and interim milestones in 2020 and 2025 includes the contribution of the Warm Home Discount scheme towards that target as, whilst it is an energy bill rebate rather than an energy efficiency measure, this has a significant impact on the ability of a household to keep warm. We are currently consulting on the 2016/17 scheme and will be publishing our proposals for the design of the future Warm Home Discount scheme (from 2017 onwards) for consultation later this year.

Cabinet Office

Cybercrime

Graham Evans: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what progress has been made on enhancing cyber-security in the UK.

Mr Oliver Letwin: Between 2011 and 2016, we invested £860 million in a National Cyber Security Programme to deliver the 2011 UK Cyber Security Strategy. I made a Written Ministerial Statement on the 14th April to the House: “Final annual report on the 2011 – 2016 UK Cyber Security Strategy” with an accompanying Annual Report. Key achievements include the launch of the UK’s Computer Emergency Response Team; disruption of cyber threats by the new National Cyber Crime Unit and the growth of the Cyber Essentials scheme for companies. This year, we will be publishing a new five year strategy and launching a new National Cyber Security Centre in the autumn.

UK Membership of EU: Referendums

Mr Bernard Jenkin: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the cost to the public purse has been of all activity related to promoting the Government's policy of remaining in the EU, including staff costs and the writing and publishing of documents and web pages; and what estimate he has made of the total of such projected expenditure by the date of the EU referendum.

Mr Oliver Letwin: The cost of the pamphlet and the website will have been just over £9 million.

Civil Servants

Paul Blomfield: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to move policy-making civil servants out of London and into the regions.

Matthew Hancock: In central London, of 181 offices in 2010, only 54 remain. Rationalisation continues, enabling more multi-departmental use of HQ buildings and civil servants to move to peripheries where property costs are lower.

Small Businesses: Procurement

Sir Henry Bellingham: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what plans he has to ensure that his Department works with other government departments to increase procurement from small and medium-sized businesses.

Matthew Hancock: In 2014-15, Central Government spent over £12 billion (27.1%) with small and medium sized businesses, which shows a continued year on year increase in SMEs winning public procurements.The Government is determined to deliver its new target of one third of spend with SMEs by the end of this Parliament. The Crown Commercial Service is working with departments to develop and implement individual plans to deliver in 2020.

Small Businesses: Procurement

Neil Carmichael: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what steps he is taking to help SMEs win public procurement projects.

Matthew Hancock: In 2014-15, Central Government spent over £12 billion (27.1%) with small and medium sized businesses, which shows a continued year on year increase in SMEs winning public procurements.The Government is determined to deliver its new target of one third of spend with SMEs by the end of this Parliament. The Crown Commercial Service is working with departments to develop and implement individual plans to deliver in 2020.

Department of Health

Social Services: Learning Disability

Mr Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps the Government is taking to ensure local authorities can adequately fund learning disability services.

Alistair Burt: In the national service model and Building the Right Support published in October 2015, NHS England, the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services set out how areas would be supported to deliver lasting change to people with a learning disability and/or autism who display behaviour that challenges.This includes service transformation – shifting money from some services, such as inpatient care, into others, such as community services.To support this NHS England is making available up to £30 million of transformation funding over three years, to be matched by clinical commissioning groups, and £15 million in capital funding. This funding is in addition to the £10 million which was made available to six fast track areas in 2015/16.The Government has supported adult social care, which includes care for those with learning disabilities, by giving local authorities access to up to £3.5 billion of new support by 2019/20. This includes the adult social care precept, allowing councils to increase council tax by 2% above the existing threshold, as well as additional social care monies to be included in the Better Care Fund.

Care Homes

Royston Smith: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to (a) ensure families of the poorest care home residents are supported by their local authority and (b) to penalise local authorities that are non-compliant with the requirements of the Care Act 2014.

Alistair Burt: The Care Act 2014 created a single, consistent route to establishing an entitlement to public care and support for all adults with needs for care and support. Anyone with eligible care needs and capital below £23,250 is entitled to have their care in a care home arranged by the local authority. The local authority may charge a person for care provided to them, subject to a financial assessment. Charging for social care is based on a number of principles, including that people should not be charged more than they can reasonably afford to pay. Guidance issued under the Care Act 2014 specifies that a person’s family should not be required to contribute towards the cost of their care and support, and neither should the family be disadvantaged as a result of charges which the person is required to pay. To help ensure that the families of care home residents are supported, the charging rules require local authorities to consider the family in working out how much a person can afford to pay towards the costs of their care. Local authorities must disregard certain items of income and capital, for example child benefit and property lived in by a qualifying relative, in the financial assessment of what a person can afford to pay. Full details of the ways that a local authority must consider a person’s family when charging for care and support can be found in the Care and Support Statutory Guidance at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/care-and-support-statutory-guidance The Department does not performance manage local authorities, as they are accountable to their local populations. However, the Department does support the sector in working towards continuous improvement and addressing areas of poor performance. Additionally, the Department has funded the Local Government Association to provide peer support in implementing the Care Act. Where the Secretary of State has serious concerns about a local authority’s adult social care, under section 48 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 he can ask the Care Quality Commission to undertake a special review of a council’s delivery and commissioning of its social care functions. Anyone who is unhappy with the way in which a local authority carries out any of its social services functions can complain through the complaints procedure that all local authorities are required to have. Alternatively, they can ask the Local Government Ombudsman to investigate.

Antibiotics: Drug Resistance

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for what reasons an annual report on the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy was not published in 2015.

Daniel Zeichner: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish an annual report on the UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance Strategy in 2016; and when he expects the next five year report on that strategy to be published.

Jane Ellison: The UK Five Year Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Strategy (2013-2018) annual progress report, 2015, was delayed to give the Report a stronger ‘one health’ perspective and to better reflect progress across the four nations, which required additional analytical work. We hope to publish the report shortly.The Department has just commissioned an independent scoping study to inform the evaluation of the current strategy which will inform any future strategy document.

Autism: Death

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to measure and improve the rate of premature mortality of people with autism who have no co-occurring learning disability.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will expand the scope of the Learning Disability Mortality Review to include people with autism and a learning disability.

Alistair Burt: The National Health Service is taking action to reduce premature death by increasing annual health checks for people with learning disabilities, including for those who also have autism. The NHS is working to reduce variation and improve care for physical health conditions that disproportionately impact on people with learning disabilities who also may have autism, including epilepsy and cancer. NHS England has commissioned the world's first Learning Disability Mortality Review Programme to support local areas to review deaths of people with learning disabilities and to use the information to improve service provision. This review programme for people with learning disabilities includes those who also have autism.Think Autism set out a clear, cross Government programme of action, developed alongside people with autism, their families and carers to improve their lives and reduce premature mortality through better access to healthcare by making adjustments to services. This includes supporting the Royal College of General Practitioners Autism Initiative to improve understanding of autism amongst general practitioners (GPs).

Autism

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether his Department plans to introduce a GP registry for autism to allow the collection of population-level data.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what information his Department collects on the health outcomes of autistic people who do not have a learning disability or mental health condition.

Alistair Burt: General practitioners already maintain a register of people with learning disabilities which may include patients on their lists who also have autism where this has been diagnosed. The Royal College of General Practitioners’ Autism Initiative, which is part funded by the Department, is currently looking at the idea of an autism indicator in general practice. This work is at an early stage. NHS England has been working with the Health and Social Care Information Centre to develop the Mental Health Services Data Set. This mandatory data set will include provision for the diagnosis of autism to be recorded. The data will be published and available for everyone to use to support and develop services based on health outcomes.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he is taking to improve provision of IVF as a result of the meeting held by the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State with Monitor and NHS England on 14 December 2015.

Jane Ellison: Following a meeting with Fertility Fairness in December 2015, officials from the Department and NHS England are considering options for addressing variation in the prices that clinical commissioning groups are currently paying for in vitro fertilisation treatment.

Multiple Sclerosis

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment he has made of the effect of prescription charges on people with multiple sclerosis; and if he will make a statement.

Alistair Burt: We have not made an assessment of the effect of prescription charges on those with multiple sclerosis. However, there are a number of prescription charge exemptions in place, in England, for which someone with multiple sclerosis may qualify. These include exemptions based on age and low income, such as certain out of work benefits and the NHS Low Income Scheme, which support those who cannot afford to pay for their prescriptions. Where someone does not qualify for exemption, Prescription Prepayment Certificates can be purchased. The 3-month and 12-month certificates allow someone to claim as many prescriptions as they need for £29.10 and £104, respectively.

Autism

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of people with autism who are in receipt of a personal health budget.

Alistair Burt: Data on recipients of personal health budgets is collected from clinical commissioning groups on a voluntary basis. Numbers are not currently collected for specific conditions so an estimate cannot be made on the number of people with autism who are in receipt of a personal health budget. NHS England is exploring options for formal data collection on personal health budgets and consideration is being given to the cohorts of recipients that will be included in this data collection.

Primary Health Care: Inspections

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what the costs of Care Quality Commission primary care inspections were to GP practices in (a) 2013-14, (b) 2014-15 and (c) 2015-16.

Ben Gummer: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care in England. It has provided the following information about the total cost of the annual registration fees to general practitioner (GP) practices.  Registration revenue 2013/142014/152015/16GP practices7,7837,6918,045Total fee income (£ million)£5.405£5.498£5.989 All GP practices are required under the Health and Adult Social Care Act 2008 to register with the CQC. GPs pay an annual fee to be registered. These tables provide a breakdown of the CQC’s fee charges in each respective. Fees for GPs vary depending on the number of practices/locations and for GPs with only one practice/location, the number of patients registered to the practice.CQC fees for GPs with multiple practices/locationsNumber of locations2013/142014/152015/162£1,200£1,230£1,3413£1,600£1,640£1,7884£2,000£2,050£2,2355£2,400£2,460£2,6816 to 10£3,000£3,075£3,35211 to 40£6,000£6,150£6,704More than 40£15,000£15,375£16,759   CQC fees for GPs with one practice/location Number of registered patients2013/142014/152015/16Up to 5,000£550£565£6165,001 to 10,000£650£665£72510,001 to 15,000£750£770£839More than 15,000£850£870£948

Doctors: Certification

Paula Sherriff: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many doctors have applied for a Certificate of Good Standing in the last six months.

Ben Gummer: The Department does not hold this information.

Mental Health Services: Finance

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what proportion of the Sustainability and Transformation Fund is applied to NHS Mental Health Trusts.

Alistair Burt: Full planning guidance for the National Health Service from England's leading national health and care bodies was published in March 2016. This guidance sets out the steps to help local organisations deliver a sustainable, transformed health service and improve the quality of care, wellbeing and NHS finance. This includes some specific guidance on the use of the Sustainability and Transformation Fund and confirms that mental health providers will not receive allocations from the general element of the Sustainability and Transformation fund. In 2016-17 the fund is being used to help sustain services facing significant financial challenges, and the greatest need is in the acute sector. All trusts, including mental health trusts, will be able to bid for the separate targeted element of the fund.

Primary Health Care: Inspections

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of primary care inspections by the Care Quality Commission on improving clinical outcomes for patients.

Ben Gummer: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care providers in England. It is responsible for assessing whether providers are meeting the fundamental standards below which care should not fall.The CQC has provided the following information.As of 31 March 2016, 3,281 general practitioner (GP) practices had received at least one overall published rating from the CQC. Of these, 4% are rated outstanding, 83% are rated good, 10% are rated requires improvement and 3% are rated inadequate. In addition to each overall rating, each practice also receives ratings for each of the CQC’s five key questions, is the service safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led set out above. This set of ratings for each practice, along with the overall rating provide a strong basis for improving clinical outcomes by highlighting where care is already good and where improvement is required.106 GP practices have been re-inspected following an overall rating of requires improvement or inadequate. Of these locations, 81 have had an improvement in their overall rating following re-inspection.There have been 153 GP practices / Out of Hours services placed into special measures. Subsequently, 43 have exited special measures and the majority of locations placed in special measures that have been re-inspected, have improved. At present 84% have improved, with over half of those improving moving up two categories to an overall good rating. Where the CQC has found unacceptably poor care, patients have been protected with a total of 16 de-registrations to date.

Mental Illness: Carers

Jo Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to support carers assisting people with mental health conditions.

Alistair Burt: The Government recognises the invaluable contribution made by unpaid carers including those who care for people with mental health conditions and the importance of supporting them in their caring roles.That is why we continue to support implementation of the improved rights for carers enshrined in the Care Act 2014. The Department has provided £104 million of funding to local authorities for these rights in 2015/16, which include an extended right to assessment and, for the first time, a duty on local authorities to meet carers’ eligible needs for support.We have also made an additional £400 million available to the National Health Service between 2011 and 2015 to provide carers with breaks from their caring responsibilities to sustain them in their caring role. The equivalent annual allocation of £130 million for carers breaks is now included in the Better Care Fund.In May 2014, NHS England published its action plan NHS England - Commitment to carers, it includes a series of commitments around eight priorities, which include raising the profile of carers, including young carers.The Department is leading on the development of a new cross-Government National Carers Strategy that will look at what more can be done to support existing and new carers including those who care for people with mental health conditions. To support the development of the strategy we are currently conducting a national call for evidence. We want to engage with a wide range of individuals and organisations with experience of caring, to ensure our evidence reflects the diversity of experience of carers, and those for whom they care. The call for evidence was launched in March and will run until mid-summer 2016.

Learning Disability

Mr Geoffrey Cox: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps other than the social care precept the Government is taking to ensure that local authorities are able adequately to fund services for people with learning disabilities.

Alistair Burt: In addition to the social care precept, which gives local authorities access to up to £2 billion for adult social care by 2019/20; the Government has supported adult social care, which includes care for those with learning disabilities, by giving local authorities access to up to £1.5 billion of new support by 2019/20. This is based on the additional social care monies to be included in the Better Care Fund. In the national service model and Building the Right Support published in October 2015, NHS England, the Local Government Association and the Association of Directors of Adult Social Services set out how areas would be supported to deliver lasting change to people with a learning disability and/or autism who display behaviour that challenges. This includes service transformation – shifting money from some services, such as inpatient care, into others, such as community services. To support this NHS England is making available up to £30 million of transformation funding over three years, to be matched by clinical commissioning groups, and £15 million in capital funding. This funding is in addition to the £10 million which was made available to six fast track areas in 2015/16.

Out-patients: Attendance

Dr Sarah Wollaston: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what safeguards are in place to ensure that patients who require review hospital appointments are seen within a clinically recommended or safe time.

Ben Gummer: The appropriate interval for follow up appointments will vary between different services or specialties, and between individual patients, depending on the severity of their condition. All follow up appointments (also known as planned, surveillance or recall appointments) should take place when clinically appropriate.NHS England’s guidance, “Recording and reporting referral to treatment (RTT) waiting times for consultant-led elective care” is clear that when patients on planned lists are clinically ready for their care to commence and reach the date for their planned appointment, they should either receive that appointment or be transferred to an active waiting list, meaning a waiting time clock will be started and their wait reported in the relevant statistical return.Furthermore, the Care Quality Commission (CQC) also assesses providers against the new fundamental standards of safety and quality below which care should never fail. One of the fundamental standards requires that care and treatment must be appropriate and reflect service users’ needs and preferences. Another standard requires that care and treatment must be provided in a safe way. The CQC will require a provider to improve where it is not meeting these standards.

General Practitioners

Alex Chalk: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many claims were made against GPs working outside of regular hours in each of the last five years; and what the average amount is for which the claim was made in that period.

Ben Gummer: Information on claims made against general practitioners (GPs) is not held centrally. In relation to clinical negligence claims made against GPs working outside of regular hours, these are in the main covered by the Medical Defence Organisations.

Midwives

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Written Statement to the House of 16 July 2015, HCWS113, on Publication of Learning not Blaming and Review of NHS Leadership, what assessment he has made of the consistency of the abolition of the Nursing and Midwifery Council's statutory Midwifery Committee with his plan to end the statutory supervision of midwives.

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Written Statement of 16 July 2015, HCWS113, on Publication of Learning not Blaming and Review of NHS Leadership, what plans he has for a reporting mechanism to replace Local Supervising Authorities following the implementation of his plan to end statutory supervision of midwives.

Ben Gummer: In the ‘Learning not blaming: The government response to Freedom to Speak Up, the Public Administration Select Committee report on clinical incidents, and the Morecambe Bay Investigation’, the Government accepted the recommendation to remove the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s (NMC) current responsibility and accountability for statutory supervision of midwives in the United Kingdom and committed to changing the law as speedily as possible.The abolition of the statutory Midwifery Committee at the NMC is a consequence of the Law Commission review of professional regulators. The Midwifery Committee does not have a role in the statutory supervision of midwives. The NMC is considering how midwifery advice will be secured by the NMC if the Midwifery Committee is, after consultation, abolished. It has set up a Midwifery Panel of interested parties to do this.The proposals for a new design of supervision for midwifery, incorporated setting up a task force in each country of the UK under the auspices of each UK Chief Nursing Officer. They are currently working through plans to create new mechanisms and considering what systems and processes will replace the Local Supervising Authorities.

Maternity Services

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what plans he has to allow NHS bodies to designate people other than midwives as the lead clinical practitioner for women in pregnancy, childbirth and postnatal period.

Ben Gummer: There are no such plans. The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) has recently written to its external partners to provide reassurances about the proposed changes to midwifery supervision regulation and confirmed that there will be:― No change to the protected title of ‘midwife’. Also the protected function of ‘attendance on a woman in childbirth’ will remain. Other than in an emergency or as part of training, only a midwife or medical practitioner can deliver a baby.― No change to the scope of midwifery practice, which is much wider than the narrow protected function and is reflected in the standards of competence for registered midwives and their Code.On 21 April, the Department launched a consultation on the proposed changes to the NMC’s governing legislation to remove midwifery supervision from statute. The proposals do not suggest that midwifery supervision and the education and training to support this role will cease to exist, but that the additional tier of regulation for midwives will be removed resulting in a clear separation of the role and purpose of the supervision and regulation of midwives. The consultation closes on 17 June 2016.

Learning Disability: Mortality Rates

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made on the University of Bristol study of the mortality rates of people with learning disabilities in NHS care, commissioned by NHS England and announced on 18 June 2015.

Alistair Burt: The University of Bristol has appointed the programme team who will oversee the mortality review programme and has consulted with interested parties on the methodologies and approaches to be used. A pilot review programme is underway in the North East and Cumbria which will be used to inform how the programme operates as it is rolled out. A plan is now in place to roll out the review across all regions of England between now and 2018, with pilots starting in other parts of the country during 2016/17. Additional resources have been made available to support regions in this work.

Tuberculosis

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2016 to Question 33687, what new investment which is in line with the Collaborative TB Strategy for England has been made to deliver (a) TB awareness raising, (b) TB case finding and screening and (c) treatment for (i) homeless people and (ii) other under-served sectors of the population.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England has resourced a National Tuberculosis (TB) Office to support implementation of the Collaborative TB Strategy for England, including working with stakeholders on awareness raising and case finding and treatment. The National TB Office is also overseeing the work of a Task and Finish group, which is looking at how to tackle the needs of those with TB in under-served populations, including homeless people. The group will present their findings to the National TB Programme in the autumn. Currently, however, there is no new investment being specifically targeted at the homeless population.NHS England has provided new investment, £10 million in 2015/16 and a further £10 million for 2016/17, to support latent TB infection testing and treatment which includes funding for TB awareness raising and TB case finding and treatment. The latter service is of particular relevance to the homeless population.

Midwives: Regulation

Louise Haigh: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what discussions he has had with (a) the Nursing and Midwifery Council, (b) the Royal College of Midwives, (c) the Royal College of Nursing and (d) Independent Midwives UK on changes to midwifery regulation.

Ben Gummer: The Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC), the Royal College of Midwives (RCM) and Independent Midwives UK (IMUK) have all been involved in discussions concerning the proposed changes to midwifery regulation.On 22 January 2016 the Department, on behalf of the four United Kingdom Chief Nursing Officers and their external partners, published plans for a new non-statutory system of midwifery supervision that will meet the need for clinical supervision of midwives in clinical practice, and peer review for those not in clinical practice. The NMC, RCM and IMUK were consulted on and contributed to the published proposals. The Royal College of Nursing has not been involved in the above discussions, as midwifery regulations do not affect nurses.

Tuberculosis: Screening

Stephen Timms: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer of 19 April 2016 to Question 33687, what funding and support (a) his Department and (b) NHS England have provided to integrate blood-borne virus testing into mobile digital radiology screening for active TB in line with NICE guidance NG33 of January 2016.

Jane Ellison: As yet, no funding has been allocated to include blood-borne virus (BBV) testing into mobile screening outreach services.NHS England has provided additional funding to the London ‘Find & Treat’ mobile health unit so that they can offer latent Tuberculosis testing and treatment. The Find & Treat service continues its discussions with the Hepatitis C Trust to work in partnership to provide on-the-spot screening for hepatitis C and onward care.The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence guidance NG33 published in January 2016 suggests that integrating BBV testing into mobile digital radiology screening services would be good practice. NHS England has expressed an interest to consider this further, and discussions continue with the lead London Clinical Commissioning Groups.

Motor Neurone Disease

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to increase funding for motor neurone disease (a) research treatment and (b) patient care.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to help ensure the earliest possible diagnosis of motor neurone disease.

Rebecca Long Bailey: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what provision there is for people with motor neurone disease to access the drug Riluzole; and how soon after diagnosis people with that condition are able to access that drug.

Jane Ellison: On 24 February 2016, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) published a new guideline on the assessment and management of motor neurone disease (MND). The guideline sets out the signs and symptoms of the disease and recommends that robust protocols and pathways are in place to inform healthcare professionals about MND and how it may present and to inform healthcare professionals in all settings about local referral arrangements. NICE is clear that patients suspected of having MND should be referred without delay. The guideline can be found at the following link:www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng42/resources/motor-neurone-disease-assessment-and-management-1837449470149To support general practitioners (GPs) to spot the potential symptoms of MND, the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and the MND Association have worked together to produce a ‘Red Flag Tool’ which sets out key signs of MND to help GPs to identify suspected cases and refer them promptly to a neurologist for appropriate investigation. The RCGP and British Medical Journal have also both produced MND e-learning courses which together cover both signs and symptoms as well as disease management.Riluzole is the only drug licensed in the United Kingdom to slow the progression of MND. In 2001, NICE recommended that Riluzole should be available for the treatment of individuals with the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) form of the disease within its licensed indications, which are to extend life or the time to mechanical ventilation for individuals with ALS. The National Health Service is legally obliged to fund and resource medicines and treatments recommended by NICE's technology appraisals. Decisions regarding the initiation of Riluzole therapy are a matter for individual clinicians in discussion with their patients.The usual practice of the Department's National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) is not to ring-fence funds for expenditure on particular topics: research proposals in all areas compete for the funding available. The NIHR welcomes funding applications for research into any aspect of human health, including MND. These applications are subject to peer review and judged in open competition, with awards being made on the basis of the importance of the topic to patients and health and care services, value for money and scientific quality. Current NIHR awards include a £0.3 million doctoral research fellowship looking at the use of telehealth in MND.

Diabetes: Chiropody

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to help reduce the number of hospitals which do not have a multi-disciplinary diabetes foot care team as advised in NICE guidance.

Jane Ellison: The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has published clinical guidance and quality standards on the treatment of diabetes and its complications. The NICE Diabetes Quality Standard is clear that people with diabetes who are at risk of foot ulceration should receive regular reviews by a foot protection team in accordance with its clinical guidance. The Health and Social Care Act (2012) places a duty on NHS England to have regard to the NICE Quality Standards. Clinical commissioning groups should also have regard to them in planning and delivering services, as part of a general duty to secure a continuous improvement in quality.Our mandate to NHS England for next year includes an objective for NHS England “to lead a step change in the NHS in preventing ill health and supporting people to live healthier lives”.There has been an increase in the provision of access to a Multidisciplinary Diabetes Foot care Teams and an indicator measuring performance is included within the National Diabetes Audit to enable progress to be tracked. The focus to date has been on improving access to assessment and treatment by a specialist team. In terms of the proportion of hospitals with a Multidisciplinary Diabetes Foot Care Team, this was 60% in 2011, 72% in 2013, and the figure for 2015 will be published soon as part of the National Diabetes Inpatient Audit 2015 report.

Diabetes: Orthopaedics

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress has been made in reducing the national diabetes-related amputation rate since his 2013 commitment to halving that rate.

Jane Ellison: The NHS Five Year Forward View committed to introducing the first national diabetes prevention programme to be delivered nationwide. As a result, NHS England, Public Health England and Diabetes UK have been working together on Healthier You: the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme which this year will offer at least 10,000 places on an evidence based behaviour change intervention shown to reduce the risk of Type 2 diabetes. Preventing diabetes from developing in those at risk will be key to combatting the rise of this condition and its complications, including those resulting in amputation, in the coming years.We have made achieving a measurable reduction in variation in the management and care of people with diabetes by 2020 a mandate objective for NHS England and improving foot care for people with diabetes is an important part of achieving this. NHS England will support clinical commissioning groups (CCGs) and providers in identifying the steps they need to take to improve outcomes for patients with diabetes, including foot care services for inpatients.Improvements in outcomes for patients with diabetes will be monitored as part of the CCG Improvement and Assessment Framework. Also, the National Diabetes Foot Care Audit, the first of which was published in March, provides data on all diabetes foot care services. This will enable all foot care services to measure their performance against the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence clinical guidelines and peer units, and to monitor adverse outcomes for people who develop diabetic foot disease.

Junior Doctors: Conditions of Employment

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what (a) oral and (b) written communication, guidance and information there has been between his Department and (i) NHS England and (ii) NHS foundation trusts on implementation of changes to junior doctors' contracts and terms and conditions.

Ben Gummer: The Department communicates on a regular basis with NHS England and foundation trusts.However, NHS Employers are, on behalf of government, leading on the implementation of the new contract and they are in regular contact with NHS trust and foundation trust employers.Details of NHS Employers communications can be found at:http://www.nhsemployers.org/~/link.aspx?_id=3C38D4A74B8148FE88422AC66DB51E72&_z=z

Women and Equalities

Women and Equalities Select Committee

Julie Cooper: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many times she has attended public meetings of the Women and Equalities Committee since her appointment.

Caroline Dinenage: The Secretary of State for Education and Minister for Women and Equalities has attended two public meetings of the Women and Equalities Select Committee since its establishment in June 2015, giving evidence to the Committee’s enquiries on Transgender Equality and the Gender Pay Gap. In my role as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Women, Equalities and Family Justice, I also attended and gave evidence at the first of these sessions. I remain informed of other public meetings via Parliament TV and meeting transcripts. Attendance at Committee meetings is a matter of public record. Transcripts and videos of these appearances can be found on the Committee’s web pages, via the links below. There is also a transcript in Hansard. http://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/women-and-equalities-committee/transgender-equality/oral/24014.htmlhttp://data.parliament.uk/writtenevidence/committeeevidence.svc/evidencedocument/women-and-equalities-committee/gender-pay-gap/oral/28868.html